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She’s trying to make it dramatic. I stare at her, realizing that everything she does is over the top and dramatic. She’s selfish and self-centered. I’m not saving them. I’m allowing them to continue to live their egocentric lives.
“I’m not saving anyone,” I state. “Because it’ll just happen again.”
My mother jerks her chin, her gaze sliding down her nose and connecting with mine. “Don’t be a little bitch, Claire,” she hisses.
I start to tell her that I’m not, but then decide against it, mainly because my mother doesn’t give half of a shit when it comes to that stuff. She’d just slap me across the face and tell me I’m ungrateful.
I watch as she holds out her hand, and Shelby slips her palm into my mother’s waiting one. I look on as they move together and slip out of the room. I’m left alone in silence again, my focus on the people below, and yes, I am feeling sorry for myself. Not that I would ever admit it to my mother.
I’m not sure how long I stand at the window staring at the people walking around when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. Glancing around at the buildings, I wonder if someone behind one of the glass windows that surrounds the casino is watching me.
Laughing to myself, I shake my head a couple of times. That’s the most ridiculous notion ever. Nobody even knows I’m up here, let alone where they would need to be in order to see me through the window.
But I can’t shake that feeling of being watched. Backing away from the glass, I continue to flick my gaze from window to window, down at the street, up at the rooftops, hoping to catch a glimpse of anyone who could be looking at me.
There is nothing.
There is nobody.
COLEMAN
Claire senses me.
I know she does, but I can’t make myself known yet. Maybe not ever here in Vegas. I enjoy watching her, taking her in without what I’m sure will be an expression of fear on her face. I’m not ready for that yet.
I can tell she’s upset, nervous, worried, and possibly disgusted at what her life has become. I can understand. The situation isn’t ideal for her… but for me, it’s exactly what I’ve earned. And as much as I want to feel sorry for her, I also know that this is mine. She is mine. Earned and promised.
My phone buzzes inside my pocket, and I pull it out, sliding my thumb across the screen before I lift it to my ear, my eyes never leaving Claire. She’s still looking around, up and down, left to right. I know she still senses me. She must, and I find it stimulating.
I’ve never been one to play games. If I like fucking a woman, I’ll stay with her until something changes. My brothers and I are vastly different when it comes to the opposite sex. Wells always did one-night stands, usually paid for.
Hendrick liked to pick up women in clubs, but then we recently discovered that he had been paying for women who were sex slaves. Likely getting a high from that he couldn’t get anywhere else. We are still not sure what to do with that information, but he claims he’s quit. I hope he has. What he was doing, I know it was for a high, but it was not healthy.
My brothers have changed, not just Hendrick, but both of them—all of us. Our family dynamic is about to be completely shaken with the addition of not only my wife but Wells’s, too. Wells has found the woman he’s going to marry. Parker, a woman my father has practically demanded he marry, which is fine because he actually fell in love with her.
And then there’s Hendrick, who has found Parker’s best friend to solely fuck—so he claims. It’s an odd situation, and I’m staying out of it. I’m not sure if Hendrick is going to settle with her or if they’re just having some fun. I can’t imagine Hendrick settling with anyone anytime soon, so maybe it really is just for fun.
“We are meeting her family in a couple of days,” Wells announces. “What do you think about them?”
I don’t even have to think about my feelings on the subject. I already know they are complete fucking trash, but she’s not. There’s something about her that’s beyond the sweet and innocent vibe she has going on. It’s different. She’s not like her parents, not like her oldest brother. I’m not sure what the rest of them are like, but so far, Claire is unlike her entire family.
“They’re typical for Las Vegas showy casino owners,” I murmur.
“And the girl?”
“Beautiful,” I admit.
He chuckles. “I knew that from her picture. Tell me something I don’t already know.”
I think about his words as I stare at her. She looks sad. She moves out of the room, and I decide to take a step back from watching as well. Turning around, I face the bed of the hotel room and let out a heavy sigh.
“She doesn’t want this. We’re blackmailing her.”
Wells hums. My brother is my best friend. I’m close with Hendrick, but Wells and I are closer in age and have always been best friends. As adults, that has not changed. Nothing has. He’s the one I turn to when I need something. He’s the one who always has my back, too.
“Of course we are. Do you think that Parker would be marrying me if she knew the truth? Dad is making it happen because he’s afraid she’ll go to the police if she finds out the facts. He’s strategic. He probably knew those people would never pay back their debt, and he also knew they had two young, pretty daughters.”
Wells is likely correct. Dad would be strategic enough to do exactly that. Clearing my throat, I lift my hand and run my fingers through my hair. I need to get her alone. I need to know that this is the right move to make.
